Licania jefensis Prance

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. 1989. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9S: 1-267. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania jefensis Prance

  • Type

    Type. Panama. Panama: Summit of Cerro Jefe, 2 Apr 1969 (fl), Dwyer et al 5047 (holotype, NY; isotype, MO).

  • Description

    Description - Shrub to 2 m tall, the young branches tomentose, soon becoming glabrous. Leaf lamina elliptic, coriaceous, 3-6 × 1.8-3.5 cm, rounded at base, acute to acuminate at apex, the acumen 3-5 mm long, glabrous on both surfaces when mature, when young with a lanate, caducous indumentum which is more persistent beneath, with scattered glands on lower surface, without stomatal cavities, midrib prominent on both surfaces; primary veins 8-11 pairs, prominulous above, prominent beneath; secondary venation conspicuously prominulous and reticulate on both surfaces; petioles 2.5-4 mm long, tomentose, eglandular, rugulose, slightly canaliculate. Stip ules small, axillary, caducous. Inflorescences of terminal and subterminal racemose panicles, 6-11 cm long, the rachis and branches yellow-brown-tomentose. Bracts and bracteoles ca. 0.5 mm long, tomentose on exterior, persistent. Flowers ca. 2 mm long. Receptacle campanulate, sessile, tomentose on exterior, pilose within. Calyx lobes five, tomentose on exterior, puberulous within. Petals absent. Stamens ca. 13, inserted around complete circle; filaments far exserted, free to base. Ovary pilose. Style glabrous, equalling filaments in length. Fruit globose, ca. 25 cm in diam, epicarp smooth and glabrous; mesocarp thin and fleshy; endocarp hard, bony, thin.

  • Discussion

    flowering in March and April.

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 50). Known only from the cloud forests of Panama,

    Panama Central America|